The current whereabouts of Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, are unknown, though he's finally left South Africa, where he has been all year. He had been forced to stay in the country after he attempted to use improper travel documents (a "world passport") in January. Last week, it was announced that he was finally granted permission to leave the country, though he won't be allowed back for now. Bey had announced his retirement from music (and also Hollywood) shortly after his immigration violation, and now that he's allowed back on home soil, he has set up a series of concerts with which he'll say goodbye.
His four-date farewell tour begins on Dec. 21 at The Apollo in Harlem, and the three remaining dates are set for consecutive nights at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., beginning on New Year's Eve. Bey will perform songs from a different album of his -- Black on Both Sides, The New Danger, True Magic, and The Ecstatic -- on each night. The shows will also introduce new material and include collaborations with surprise guests. Bey's artwork, and the art of his A Country Called Earth collective, will be anonymously displayed at both of the venues.
The 42-year-old Brooklyn rapper is thought to be planning an album with Chicago producer and artist Ferrari Sheppard as the duo Dec. 99th. They released two tracks in August: "Hymn" and "Seaside Panic Room."
Yasiin Bey final tour dates:
Dec. 21 in Harlem, NY - Apollo Theater
Dec. 31 in Washington D.C. - Kennedy Center
Jan 1 in Washington D.C. - Kennedy Center
Jan. 2 in Washington D.C. - Kennedy Center